Half Day Locations

A small group tour operated by an expert Lord of the Rings guide, this half day tour explores the very best filming locations the Wellington Region has to offer. After your hotel pick-up, you leave the city behind and seek out the beautiful, natural settings that made New Zealand into Middle-earth. Although no sets remain on any of the locations, you will be astounded how these places were transformed into some of your favourite scenes from the films.

Starting at the Hutt River, see where the Fellowship voyaged down the Great River Anduin towards Amon Hen after leaving Lothlorien. Then the Gardens of Isengard where Gandalf sought advice from Saruman the White about the Ring and Saruman’s orc army destroy the gardens to fuel the fires to build weapons. Continuing up Highway 2, you then visit Kaitoke Regional Park, a stunning New Zealand rain forest that became Rivendell. Wander the paths walked by Elrond and Arwen, and the newly formed Fellowship of the Ring.

You then pause for a moment with a refreshing morning/afternoon tea before heading back to the city, passing by the quarry used for Helm’s Deep and Minas Tirith on the way. Making your way up Mt Victoria you stop to see the Outer Shire, where the four Hobbits find a “Shortcut to Mushrooms,” famously “Get off the road,” and “Race to the Buckleberry ferry.” You also see where Aragorn and Theoden overlook their troops at the “Dunharrow Encampment” before finishing the tour at the fantastic Mt Victoria lookout with breath-taking views of Wellington City, region, and “Wellywood,” the home of the Wellington Film Industry.

PLEASE NOTE THAT FOR THE WEEK OF MONDAY 25TH MARCH – FRIDAY 29TH MARCH, WE ARE UNABLE TO VISIT THE RIVENDELL FILM LOCATION AT KAITOKE REGIONAL PARK.

This is due resurfacing work on the access road into the site, which is unpassable. Instead, we will visit two other locations – where Aragorn washes ashore and is rescued by Brego and where Faramir sees Boromir’s body float past him in a dream.

What you need to know

Half Day

Four hours duration

Pick up 8:30am or 1:30pm

Return: 12:30pm or 5:30pm

Hotel or Wellington Central pick ups

Refreshments, morning or afternoon tea

Entry fees and GST included

Air-conditioned luxury vehicle

Not suitable for wheelchairs, walkers or people of limited mobility

Child rates for 14 years & under and must travel with paying adult

Infants 2 years and under travel free but must be booked in as a passenger